Let's play a game of guess the grades!

[perezfan]

Sgc 2.5
psa 4

[mrreality68]

Psa 3
sgc 2.5

[jh691626]

Sgc 2.5. Psa 3

[raulus]

I was thinking it, but lacked the chutzpah to actually say it. PSA 4 it is, in spite of all the naysayers.

I’ll guess SGC 3 on the other side.

Tip for those who don’t know, you can use the PSA cert app to scan a barcode, even a barcode that’s on a screen.

[ejharrington]

Sgc -2 psa - 3

[butchie_t]

SGC - Authentic
PSA - 2

[hcv123]

As Nicolo through his technical prowess already revealed the PSA grade, here are the cards with the grades intact.

This was a VERY interesting exercise to me. Particularly that there was actually a difference of opinion about which card deserves the higher grade!

To me as to most of the responders visually the PSA card appears about a grade better than the SGC card. I own the PSA card.

Would love to continue the discussion as to what factors led to your responses. What I see - PSA has stronger centering, PSA has stronger color, PSA has stronger edges (almost no chipping), PSA has slightly better corners. There was a comment about focus - I don't see a difference - others? The only thing I see that the SGC wins - it doesn't have the tiny print dot on Matty's nose that the PSA one has.

It came up as I was asked to trade The PSA for the SGC + cash. It was 8.5% in cash of what I was asking on the Matty. I refused the offer as to me whatever the #, my PSA card just has eye appeal a full grade higher than the SGC. So for those of you who see the PSA as nicer than the SGC - what would you figure to be a fair % premium if you were trading down to the SGC? Feel free to use numbers if easier. They are both Sovereign backs.

[ullmandds]

2.5/3.5

[Fred]

SGC 2
PSA 3

I hope there aren't any huge surprises here.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by hcv123

As Nicolo through his technical prowess already revealed the PSA grade, here are the cards with the grades intact.

Sorry to spoil the fun. I briefly toyed with feigning ignorance, while simultaneously offering to brashly wager large sums on what I had already divined through my electronic legerdemain.

Just a guess here that most of us were expecting that these were recently graded, like in the last few weeks. I’m pretty sure that the PSA grade is a few years old. Not sure about the SGC, although it’s obviously a low number. Since I have absolutely zero familiarity with their numbering system, I’m not sure if this is indicative of when it was graded.

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by raulus

Not sure about the SGC, although it’s obviously a low number. Since I have absolutely zero familiarity with their numbering system, I’m not sure if this is indicative of when it was graded.

SGC used to have consecutive numbering on the flips.
Now, they are totally random

[Snowman]

I don't think anyone here believes the SGC *ought* to grade higher, I just think the opinions posted reflect the general, and well-deserved, lack of confidence the vintage community now has in PSA's ability to accurately grade vintage these days.

The SGC looks overgraded to me. I think that card should be a 2.5 or a 3. The PSA card being in a 4 holder is a bit surprising, but the cert beginning with 45xx means that it was graded right in the early stages of the pandemic, and likely by an experienced grader, before the avalanche came that overwhelmed PSA and before they hired all these noobie graders who haven't got a clue. If that cert began with 5xxx or 6xxx though, it would almost certainly be in a 2 or 3 holder. They're just all over the place these days.

If I were subbing today, I'd expect a 2.5 on the SGC card and a 3 on the PSA.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by hcv123

It came up as I was asked to trade The PSA for the SGC + cash. It was 8.5% in cash of what I was asking on the Matty. I refused the offer as to me whatever the #, my PSA card just has eye appeal a full grade higher than the SGC. So for those of you who see the PSA as nicer than the SGC - what would you figure to be a fair % premium if you were trading down to the SGC? Feel free to use numbers if easier. They are both Sovereign backs.

When I was putting together my set, I figured a 20% discount for the same card in a SGC holder vs a PSA holder. For the condition difference, I think you are looking at 40-50% of your asking price in cash being added to the SGC to equal the value of the PSA.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by rats60

When I was putting together my set, I figured a 20% discount for the same card in a SGC holder vs a PSA holder. For the condition difference, I think you are looking at 40-50% of your asking price in cash being added to the SGC to equal the value of the PSA.

Thank you Floyd, for reading and responding to the question in my last post. As the offer I received was not even close, I didn't actually take the time to think about exactly what it would be, but my thinking is in the ballpark of alligned with yours (though I do think the gap is closing between PSA and SGC on prewar cards). For me it was more about the "obvious?" condition difference, "grade" notwithstanding.

Originally Posted by Snowman

I don't understand the viewpoint that they ought to both be the same grade. If these two cards were submitted both raw, together, to the same company, there is zero chance of them coming back with the same grade. At any TPG.

Not only the same, but if you look back at the beginning of the thread, there are a couple who suggested the SGC grade higher than the PSA!? I am with you - I don't understand either (but have requested explanation) - Interesting and perplexing.